Safety swinging finger board for well drilling derricks



June 16; 1931. K, A, MCCOY 1,810,720

AFETY SWINGING FINGER BOARD FOR WELL DRILLING DERRICK-5 Filed Jan. 2. 19:50 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR V K. A. MC COY ATTORNEYS K. A. M COY June 16, 1931 SAFETY SWINGING- FINGER BOARD FOR WELL DRILLING DERRICKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \IIIWII IHM ' INVENTOR A. MC COY E? fl t/[Z192] ATTORNEYS Patented June 16, 1931 as STATES.

KENNETH ALBERT PATENT OFFICE;

IVJZCCOY, F FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB ONE-HALF T0 ESTEE T. BROWN, OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA I SAFETY swmerne nrnenn BOARD FOR mm. DRILLING nnnnrcxs Application filed January 2, 1930. Serial no. 418,100.

My invention relates to a safety swinging fingerboard for well drilling derricks.

Finger boards are used in well drilling derricks extending inwardly from one of the sides and are utilized to guide the drill pipe, well casing or the like when. stacking on a derrick floor, for inserting or removal from the well. The finger boards are sometimes struck by the elevator or other of the hoisting v equipment andif rigid, these are sometimes broken. An object of my invention is a finger board which may tilt upwardly or downwardly when struck and thereby allow passage of the elevator or other part of the driven equipment without breakage of the finger board.

Another object of my invention is supporting the finger board in part by a resilient brace, which brace is adapted to compress if the finger board is struck in a downward direction and thus allow passage of the drilling equipment without breaking the board,

. the resilient brace then returning the finger board to its original horizontal position.

Another object of my invention is a finger board mounting which may swing upwardly when struck by equipment being hoisted and allow suchequipment to pass and then the finger board will fall on the supporting res'ilientbrace.

Another object of my invention is a swivel mounting for the finger board as a whole, so that this may be shifted from-a position for stacking pipes, to a position aligned closely with one side of the derrick and thereby allow full use of the derrick for hoisting and lowering well equipment without danger of striking the finger board.

Another detailed object and feature of my invention is having an extensible finger end which may be moved in and out to extend the efiective length of the finger board; this end being attached to a tilting finger board tip and secured in various extendedpositions.

'Another detail feature of my invention is equipping the derrick with a duplicate finger board to operate on opposite sides of the ele- V'ator' cables so that the drill pipe or casing may be stacked at opposite sides of the derrick and both of thesefinger' boards being braced by angular braces extending outward ly fro-ma substantial bracket in the center of one side of the derrick; the finger boards being swi'velly mounted on a vertical axis to swing both parallel to the same side of the derrick and close to such side. i

In constructing my invention I utilize suitable brackets extending inwardly from the side. frameof a derrick and'in these brackets I have a1 vertically mounted post, the mounting including ball bearings so that the posts will rotate or swivel readily. The finger board is rigidly secured to the post and extends horizontally therefrom and has a finger tip with a horizontal pivot so that the tip may tilt upwardly or downwardly when struck by well equipment. The tip is'provided with a telescopic end piece which may be adjusted inwardly croutwardly vand secured by a pin. The finger board is braced ,in the desired operative position by a diagonal brace connected to one side of the derrick and engaging the finger board and the tiltable finger tip is supported by a resilient brace including a spring and a bar retainer thereby, having a supporting elementat the upper end to engage theunderside of the finger tip. Thus if the finger tip is thrust downwardly this brace can be compressed.

My invention is illustratedin connection with'the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a' derrick showing my finger boardequipment installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the derrick taken above the fingerboard, as if 'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in'the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the finger board In ountingstaken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 4 is a plan of the finger board and mounting taken in the direction of the arrow 4: ofFigp3g i Fig. 5 is a detail section through theresilient brace on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail end elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the well derrick is'in-. a, it dicated bythenumeral 11 and at a suitable elevation has a platform 12- encircling the derrick which is sometimes designated as a run around platform. The derrick in the frame has horizontal connecting beams 13 attached to the corner posts 14.

In my construction I utilize upper and lower brackets 15 and 16 secured to the side of the derrick and these may be secured to the horizontal beams 13. These brackets are illustrated as being formed of fiat bar metal with angularly bent ends 17 and circular bent ends 18. Such ends enclose a post 19 and have friction bearings 20. The ball bearings allow free rotation of the finger board designated generally by the numeral 21 and attached to the post 19. The finger board has a solid inner portion 22 welded or otherwise secured to the post 19 and has a finger tip 23 mounted on a horizontal pivot 2 1. The finger board and the end portion 22 have a tongue and a slot connection. The finger end 25 is mounted to telescope in the finger tip section and has a series of vertical openings 26 therethrough which are engaged by a pin 27 passing through the holes 28 in the upper and lower surface of the finger board tip which is preferably made rectangular and hollow to accommodate the end.

At the side of each of the finger boards and on the section rigid with the post, there is an eye structure 29 which is engaged by a detachable link 30. This link gives a pivoted connection at one end with a bracket 31 on one side of the derrick and such link preferably having a pin connection with the eye structure 29 on the finger board. This arrangement holds the finger board in fixed position when extended inwardly in the derrick. The finger board tip is held in its horizontal position by a resilient brace designated generally by the numeral 32. This brace comprises a relatively large tube 33 secured solidly to the post 19 and having a coupling 34 and a smaller tube'35, such tubehaving preferably a squaredinterior as indicated at 36 in Fig. 5 and in this squared section there is a telescopic bar 37. Such bar has a head 38 on the inside which is engaged by a spring 39 mounted in the enlarged tube 33 and bearing respectively on the head and on the post 19 or other fixed structure.

The bar 37 has a large roller Wheel 40 mounted on the end and this wheel bears on the side portions of the finger board tip. A suspending rod 41 connects between the fixed part 22 of the finger board and the interiorly squared tube 35. The roller 40 and the bar 37 thus have a resilient mounting; the roller bearing normally onthe underside of the finger board tip and allowing depressing of this when necessary. This roller 40 is constructed so that it clears the pin 27 so that the finger board tip may move up and down and the roller roll on the lower surface of the tip when it is pressed downwardly.

The finger board may be struck on the end to eii her tilt up into the upper dotted position of Fig. 3, or it may be forced downwardly to occupy the lower dotted position of Fig. 3. When thrust to this down position the bar 37 having the roller 40 is thrust into the squared tube 35 and compresses the spring 39, thus giving a resilient support but still allowing the finger board end to tilt down when struck by the drilling equipment and without damaging the finger board end. When the object striking the finger board end is passed in a downward direction, the bar 37 turns to its normal position. If the finger board is struck into, the upper position by up wardly moving well equipment, it immediately drops back onto the roller 40 by the action of gravity.

In connection with my invention I have not illustrated a fourble board or so-called monkey board used in connection with placing drill pipe or casing in the proper stack in a derrick, but it is understood that these may be utilized if desired. The link 30 thus holds the finger board in its correct posi tion, extending inwardly in the derrick and the brace 32 holds the finger tip end in the same horizontal plane as the fixed section 22. If it is desired to swing the finger board into the side dotted position shown in Fig. 2, the link is disconnected and on account of the ball bearing connection the finger board may readily be swung to one side and occupy a position parallel to the side of the derrick from which the finger board is swung.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a well derrick, a finger board connected thereto and having a movable portion shiftable in a vertical plane above and below the horizontal position, an under support for the movable portion to hold such portion in a horizontal posit-ion, the movable portion being free to move upwardly above the said support, the said support being depressible on downward movement of the movable portion and having means to return the movable portion to its horizontal position.

2. In combination with a well derrick, a finger board having a horizontal portion connected to the derrick and a movable finger tip movable in a vertical plane on a horizontal pivot, a resilient support engaging the under side of the tip and holding said tip in a horizontal position, the said support being depressible on depression of the tip and returning said tip after depression to its normal position.

3. In combination with a well derrick as claimed in claim 2, the movable support having a slidable bar and a telescopic fitting to house said bar with a spring in said fitting, the finger tip being movable upwardly above the horizontal and above the said support, the said support reengagingthe finger tip on the return downward movement of the tip.

4:. In combination with a well derrick, a horizontal finger board connected thereto and having a movable finger tip movable in a vertical plane, a resilient support with. means to connect said support to the derrick engaging the under side of the movable finger tip, said support being depressible when the finger tip is depressed, the tip being movable'upwardly above the horizontal above the support, and attend portion slidable longitudinally of the finger tip with-means to adjust the position of said end.

5. In combination with a well derrick, a

finger board having means to connect same to the derrickto occupy a horizontal plane and having a fingertip mounted on a horizontal pivot to move in a vertical plane, the tip having a slidable end with means to adjust said end in relation to the tip, a base having a tube with means to connect said tube to the" finger tip, the said bar being depressible on depression of the finger tip ,below the horie zontal, the tip in its movement above the horizontal becoming free of the said bar.

6. In combination with a well derrick as roller on the end engaging the underside of the finger tip, the said tip and the removable end having a pin and slot connection and a suspending rod connected from the brace to the non-vertically movable part of the finger.

7. In combination with a well derrick, a post having a pivotal mounting' from one side of the derrick, a finger board having a por tion rigidly connected to the post to swing in a horizontal plane, and means connected to one side of the derrick to retain the finger board extending inwardly in the derrick, the said finger board on release of said means being adapted to occupying a position parallel to the side supporting the post.

8. Incombination with a'well derrick, a pair of brackets connected to one side, a post pivotally mounted at the top and bottom in said brackets, a finger board having a portion fixed to said post to swing in a horizontal plane, and means to position said finger board at right angles to the side having the brackets thereon, the said finger board being shiftable to a position parallel to the said side 9. In combination with a well derrick, a pair of brackets secured to one side, a post pivotally mounted in said brackets and having a finger board rigidly connected thereto, a brace for the finger board connected to the telescopic brace connected to the post and I said sidev of the derrick. claimed in claim 5, the said bar having a H post, azpositioningmeans interconnectingione .sideof thederrick and thefinger board to retainsaid board extendinginwardly in the v V derr-icln-the said means being releasableand the board being shiftable to a position par .allelto the side supporting the brackets.

10. In combination with a well derrick as claimed inclaim 9, the finger board havinga tip pivotally mounted-to swing in avertical 11.v Incombination withawell derrick, up- I per andjlower brackets connected to one side,

a post mounted in said brackets to rotate and having a finger board connected thereto, the said finger board having the finger tip pivotally mounted movable in a vertical plane, a

having means engaging the finger tip, the said brace being collapsible on downward pivoting of the finger tip, means in the brace to return the finger tip to its originalhorizontal position, the said tip being tiltable upwardly above said horizontal position and the brace remaining substantially in its original position, and a link connected to the side of the derrick having the brackets, having a detachable connection with the finger board'to retain said fingerboardin a position at right angles to .the supporting side of the derrick,

said. link being releasable and the finger board movable to a position parallel. to the 12. In combination with a well derrick,rup-

per andlower brackets connected to one side, 'a post having a rotatable mounting in said brackets and; having a finger board rigidly connected thereto,- the finger board having a tip pivotally CO lnected thereto to swing'in a vertical plane, the said tip having a hollow' section 'withamovable end part telescoping therein and meansto adjust the end portion, a

brace having a tube and a bar telescoping of the derrick and to the finger board to retain such board at right angles to the supporta ing side of the derrick, the link being reparmovable and the finger board shiftable allel to said'side of the derrick.

18. In combination with a Well derrick, a pair of posts connected to one side, said posts being vertical, a finger board connected to each post to swing in a horizontal plane and interconnecting means, between said finger board and the derrickto retain said boards extending inwardly in the derrick and on opposite sides; of the center of the derrick.

- 14;. In combination with a Well derrick, two pair of brackets connected thereto, a post pivotally mounted in each pair, a finger board connected to each post to swing in a horizontalplane, a pair of links connected to the side of the derrick having brackets thereon and each having a connection to one of the finger boards, the said links retaining the finger boards at right angles to the said side of the derrick and being releasable whereby the finger boards may be shifted parallel to the said side of the derrick.

15. In combination with a well derrick as claimed in claim 14:, each of the finger boards having a pivotally mounted tip to swing in a vertical plane and a telescopic resilient brace connected between each post and each finger tip the said brace being depressible on downward pivoting of the finger tip and shiftable to return said tip to its normal horizontal position, the said tip being shiftable upwardly above the said brace and returned to its horizontal position by gravity.

16. In combination with a well derrick, a pivotally mounted vertical post, a finger board connected thereto to swing in a horizontal plane, a finger tip mounted on the board to swing in a' vertical plane, a brace fixedly connected to the post and having an engagement with the finger tip, said brace normally holding the tip in a horizontal position but permitting the tip to rise above the said brace, the said brace being depressible on depression of the tip, and having means to return the tip to the horizontal position.

17 In combination with a well derrick, upper and lower brackets extending inwardly from one side of the derrick, a vertical post journaled in said brackets and having a finger board attached thereto, the post and board being rotatable, whereby the board may rotate in a horizontal plane, a finger tip connected to the board to swing in a vertical plane, a brace connected to the post and having a resilient supporting element engaging the tip, said supporting element receding on depression of the tip and returning said tip to a horizontal position, and a link having a pivotal connection to one side of the derrick and detachable from the finger board to permit swinging the finger board to a position normal to the side supporting the brackets to a position parallel to said side.

In testimony wh'ereofI have signed my name to this specification.

KENNETH ALBERT MCCOY. 

